Car-step.



PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

B. J. DOUGLAS.

GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

f J I J WITNESSES.-

Aftomev late. 769,538.

UNITED STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

PATENT ()FFICE...

CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,538, dated September 6, 1904, A li ti fil d January 19,1904. Serial No. 189,773- (No model.)

"0 all 1117101 it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH J. DOUGLAS, residing at Crete, in the county of Saline and State of Nebraska, have invented certain useful Improvements in Car-Steps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and novel improvement in step attachments for passenger-coaches.

The aim of my invention is to provide an attachment to an ordinary passenger-coach so arranged that a folding step may be lowered in suitable distance to permit the passengers easily stepping down; and my invention comprises certain other combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown in Figure 1 a sectional view of the steps of a passenger-coach provided with my attachment with portions removed. Fig. 2 shows an end view of my car-ste p attachment. Fig. 3 shows a rear view of a passenger-coach equipped with my attachment with portions removed.

It is well known that the steps of an ordinary passenger-coach end a suitable distance above the ground, so that the last step to be made by a passenger alighting from a passenger-coach is of a considerable height, and that it is customary for a porter to place a footstool so that the passengers may more conveniently alight. The objection to having the steps descend any lower is found in the fact that the same would be likely to come in collision with obstructions. The aim of my invention is to provide an additional step so constructed that the same may be positively checked at any point, so that the same may be raised anysuitable distance. In fact, the step could be raised or lowered with the passenger upon it, for the reason that the step may be adjustably held at any point.

In the accompanyingdrawings Ihave shown in Fig. 1 a platform 1 of an ordinary passenger-coach, the end sleeper being marked 2,

and from two such sleepers depend the sides 3 of the car-step. As ordinarily constructed each passenger-coach of the usual type is provided with three steps a a, these steps being provided with suitable risers 5, the steps and risers not being made to close adjacent to one another, but are of such width that a considerable space is left between them, as is shown at 41' in Fig. 1, so that no snow or cinders may collect in the step-corners.

Secured to the sides 3 upon opposite points are the bearings a, which are adapted to support a suitable pinion-shaft 7), provided with the pinion a and the two gears o, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

At a suitable point I provide the vertical shaft 10, passing through the sleeper 2 and a suitable bearing 12 and below provided with a worm f, meshing with the pinion a, this worm-shaft 10 at a suitable point above being provided with the hand-wheel 15, as shown in Fig. 2, and intermediate of its length with a ratchet-wheel 13,'working in conjunction with a pawl 14:, as shown.

Secured to the risers at suitable points are the brackets 6, from which extend the rack-housings 7, which are adapted to slidably support the racks c, which racks have the webs 16 and the flanges 15, the flanges 15 being adapted to be held within the rack-housings, as may be understood in referring to Fig. 3. These racks e are in engagement with the pinions c, as shown in Fig. 1, and below the flanges and webs are bent at an angle to receive the lower step 9 and the riser 8.

Now in operating the worm-shaft by means of the hand-wheel the pinion-shaft 7) can be operated to raise the racks to bring the lower step 9 against the lower step a, as is shown in Fig. 2, the step 9 being held in position by means of the worm f and pinion c. In order to prevent the possible movement of this lower step, owing to the jar and rattling of the shaft 10, the pawl and ratchet-wheel 14. and 13 are provided. Now when it is desired to lower the step 9 it is simply necessary to rotate the worm-shaft 10 in the proper direction, when the step 9 may be lowered, and by virtue of the worm and pinion this step is immovably held at any point as soon as the movement of the worm-shaft 10 is checked, so that any suitable distance may be given this car-step 9, which is a movable step. The web .16 and flange 15 are made of a sufiicient strength so as to hold the maximum load likely to be placed on the lower step 9. When not in use, this step 9 is intended to be brought up flush against the lower fixed car-step 4. By this arrangement the necessity of the footstools is eliminated, and, further, the movable step 9 can be operated any time to be lowered any desired distance.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is

A passenger-coach step attachment comprising the combination of the following instrumentalities to wit: a rack-housing, a rack sliding within said housing, a step secured to the lower end of said rack, a shaft, a gear secured 20 ELIZABETH J. DOUGLAS.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. GRUBEN, W. W. DOUGLAS. 

